Within Washington, North Yelm is healthier than 24% of graded towns
North Yelm trails Washington on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Yelm. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Yelm
Washington sets a high bar
North Yelm is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, but only 24% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
North Yelm is behind on routine checkups
It trails Washington on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (66.5% vs 70.7%), dentist visits (62.5% vs 67%), cholesterol checks (80.8% vs 84%) and mammograms (68.4% vs 74.2%). Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in North Yelm
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.3%), vs 16.4% across Washington. Depression is above the state too: 29.2%, vs 25.1% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in North Yelm
1 in 16 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (6.3%), vs 5.1% across Washington. Housing insecurity (12% vs 9.9%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Washington figure falls outside North Yelm’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind North Yelm’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Yelm is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #218 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 85% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 15%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). North Yelm’s median household income is $73,725; among the 10,815 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Yelm adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How North Yelm adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, North Yelm runs above Washington.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.1% of North Yelm adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Out of every 100 North Yelm adults…
North Yelm runs above WA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near North Yelm
No hospital or community health center in North Yelm itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of North Yelm; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
North Yelm and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Yelm | B | 33.5% | 10.7% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Yelm | B+ | 32.4% | 7.9% | 12.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Yelm adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Yelm
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Yelm is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside North Yelm’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Yelm | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.4%16.8–22.2 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.5–17.1 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%17.2–21.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%29.8–37.3 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%31.9–37.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%33.3–38.7 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.6%26.4–30.9 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–13 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.3–6.7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%10.2–14.9 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%10.9–15.4 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 19.6%16.6–22.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%13.6–17.8 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%33.5–40.6 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.4–10.9 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 66.5%63.4–69.5 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%59.6–65.3 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.8%78.4–83 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.6%66.7–72.3 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%60.8–67.9 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.4%62.4–74 | 74.2% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.2%26.4–32 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.9%27.1–33 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%10.4–13 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.6–13.4 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.6–7.2 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.1%12.7–15.7 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%29.2–36.2 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%11–14.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.7–19 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Washington figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in North Yelm
Is North Yelm a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Yelm is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #218 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Yelm?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 37.3%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Yelm?
Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, 12.4 miles in a straight line from North Yelm’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Yelm have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–10.9%), against 8.4% across Washington.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in North Yelm more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North Yelm.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.